Shoe tree



H. C. VINING .April 4, 1950 'SHOE TREE Fileq Aug. 5, 147

Patented Apr. 4, 1950 SHOE TREE Howard C. Vining, Brockton, Mass.,assignor tol Jones & Vining, Inc., Brockton, Mass., a corporation ofMassachusetts Application August 5, 1947, Serial No. 766,281

1 Claim. (Cl. 12-128.6)

My present invention is a novel and improved shoe tree or display form.

Important objects of the invention are to improve and perfect this typeof device and to enable the same to be made quickly, economically, andwith the desired degree of adjustment to fit varying sizes of shoes.

Heretofore, it has been customary to make shoe trees usually of askeleton type to save expense, such trees being ordinarily made withsmall toe portions and skeleton heel Sections with a toggle or hingeconnecting the same. While this type of skeleton shoe tree could be madecheap-` lyv and economically, it was not satisfactory as failing vtogive a full, smooth, and firm support to the shoe upper to which theltree or display form was fitted, leaving the upper wrinkled andunsupported, particularly around the top and sides.

Other types of shoe formswhich were specially made as a full-sized lastinvolved undue expense and weight, with more or less complex connectingtoggles, hinges, or other joint constructions, particularly where alengthwise adjustability was involved.

My present invention is directed to provide a full supporting shoe treeto keep the entire area of the upper supported, smooth from wrinkles,

and particularly to have the cone portion of the i display formextending to or above and entirely around the topmost edge of theforepart, as well also as filling the ankle portion of the shoe, thusgiving a better and more attractive display feature, together with anextremely economical,

quick, and easy len'gthwise adjustment, with a single connecting link ormember.

A further feature consists in the special curvature of the heel portionof my improved shoe tree or display form which will facilitate thefitting of the shoe tree into a shoe, as well as the removal therefrom,without unduly stretching the shoe upper or distorting the same from.its design, style, size, and length.

A specialfeature is the line of cut between the forepart and heel partwhich flacilitates the pivotal action between the fore and heel parts ofmy shoe tree and cooperates with the heel portion to permit quickapplication to or removal from a shoe.

A further and special feature is the relative position of the pivot forthe heel cooperating with the curvature of the rear part of the heelwhich insures an immediate shortenin'g of the last at the initiation ofthe bending or collapsing movement from lengthened position to collapsedposition.

1 2 Thus the heel part is of the shoe and prevents straining the upper.

Referring to the drawings illustrating apre-l ferred' embodiment of mypresent invention:`

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view partly in cross section showing theshoe tree in extended posii tion, and f Fig. 2 is a corresponding sideelevational view showing the shoe tree in collapsed position. i

`As shown in the drawings, my improved shoe tree or form comprses theforepart I andheel portion 2 to which may he fitted a handle 3. The lineof cut dividing the forepart and heel partis of special importance: Onthe forepart it com- -prises two lines, one as indicated at 4 extendingdownwardly below the level of the connecting link; and a second line ofcut 5 which is ati'a slightly different angle to facilitate seating andlooking of the two'parts when in extended 'position. On the heel portion2 the line of cut isv indicated at 6, which is practically straight andis at a suflicient angle with the lines of cut t and '5 on the forepartso as to permit rocking or fiex'ing of the heel part relatively with theforepart on a single pivot point, with the conneoting link relativelyrigid with the forepart and the heel partin effect, rocking on thelink-connecting pivot. The heel part also is provided with a saw cut orkerf `I, which can be made from the line of cut 6 inwardly substantiallyin the middle portion of the heel part, the saw cut terminating asindicated at I'I, giving a relatively deep kerf so that the connectingpivot will be located well within the solid Wood of the heel part.

The |conneoting link comprses a middle member II! having one portion I Ifiattened to a thickness substantially equal to the width of the kerf 'Iso as to give a lateral bearing therein but with sufilcient clearance topermit a rocking action of the heel part on said ilattened link portionI I.

This link portion Il is provided with an opening thru which a pivot pinI2 will pass, extending from the outside of the heel part as indicatedin Fig. 2, and giving a firm pivotal bearing of the heel part on thelink I 0. The link IO has the opposite or forward portion formed roundand treated to be threaded into a bored opening I5 in the forepart, thediameter of the threaded portion I4 of the link IO and that of the boreI5 being such as to permit the threads on the link IB to cut into andform a correspondingly threaded or tapped contour in the bored opening I5. Thus, with the link In threaded into the forepart, and the pivot I2'uniting the opposite end of the link to the rear part, a quickadiustment lengthdrawn away from the heel wise is effected byV rotatingthe heel part relatively with the forepart, and the threaded portion ofthe linJ` being thus shortened or lengthened, thereby giving alengthwise adjustment of both parts.

The cone portion of the heel part 20 is of sufiicient length to act as asupport for the tongue and lacing part of the shoe, or of the vamp if aslipperypump, or the like is to be fitted on this shoe tree or form,while the particular curved portion 2| at the bottom of the heel, asindicated, is on a radius with the pivot |2 to permit and facilitate thefitting in or removal from the shoe 6 on the heel part to preventpinching the lining.

It Will thus be appreciated that my novel and improvedshoe tree ordisplay form gives a full andcomplete support to the shoe upperthroughoutits entire extentv and fills theangle portion of the shoe sothat it canv be fitted to 01' removed therefrom without -difficulty orstraining by reason of the position of the pivot i and the heel curve2|, while the forepart and heel part can'bequickly adjustedlengthwise,and all with an extremely simpleV construction and asingle link,independently of toggles, catohes, looks, or the like. The bore 15 inthe forepart is also at a precise and Vpredetermined angle .withrelation to the pivot |2 in the heel' part and thecurved portion 2 If.`Theassembling` of both parts is accomplished byl'simply positioningthem together and driving.in the pivot pin` IZ, which can beaccomplished without skilled laborand with great speed andl at a minimumof .expense My invention of alast form with a single connecting'elementwhich keepsthe forepart and heell part in correct alignment by thefiattened portion. l in the kerf 1, while permitting ad- 4 justment byrotating the link on the threads in the forepart, insures accuratealignment of both parts and greatly facilitates the assemblingoperation.

I claim:

A shoe tree, display form, or the like of the kind described, having a,substantial forepart With a longitudinally central bored openingangularly positioned with regard to the bottom of the forepart, togethervvith a heel portion having a complete ankle-supporting portion formedwith a straight line of cut adjacent the forepart, and a circularrelatively narrow saw kerf opening from said line of cut into the heelpart, said two parts being pivotally and lengthwise adjustably united bya single connecting link, said link having a threaded part adapted to bethreacled directly into the Wood of said angular recess in the forepart;and a fiattened portion adapted to fit within said saw kerf and beingheld to the heel part by a `single pivotal pin, saidlink holding saidforepart and heel part adjustably spaced sufiiciently to permit relativefiexing of. said parts to allow insertion in and removal from a shoewithout straining the upper,` and while supporting the ankle portion ofthe upper.

HOWARD C. VINING.

REFERENCES CITED The following rcferences are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED. STATES PA'IENTS Number Name Date 933,029 Fitz Aug; 31, 19091,842,265 Hamelin Jan. 19, 1932 2,053241 Harriman Sept. 1, 1936 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 23,885 Great Britain Jan. 6, 1900 24,236Great Britain Nov. 6, 1902 229,463 France Apr..18, 1893

